Strait Shores

Strait Shores began its age-friendly community process in 2023 with council approval and the formation of an advisory committee. A Community Needs Assessment was carried out through surveys, town halls and stakeholder engagement, resulting in new senior-focused programs and an action plan. The plan, presented in 2024, outlines three priorities: a community directory of services, expanded social/recreational opportunities and a transportation project to improve accessibility.

Summer 2023:

• The Resolution for engagement in the Age Friendly Process was passed by Strait Shores Council on June 12, 2023.
• An introductory meeting was held with potential stakeholders for the Age Friendly Community Advisory Committee on August 15, 2023.
• Planning began for the Community Needs Assessment Process including two meetings in the late summer/early fall of 2023.

Fall 2023:

• An online survey was distributed through the Nursing Homes Without Walls email list, and a paper survey was available as a take-home during the town hall meetings. Results were consolidated with the data from the town halls.
• 2 town hall meetings were held to gather community needs data. These were well attended, and the conversation was lively, informing our Community Needs Assessment.
• The data gathered at the Town Halls was compiled by a small group of the advisory committee and sent to the larger group to review.
• Through this assessment process, future programming ideas, such as a Seniors’ Games Gathering at the Port Elgin Public Library were formed and lead to the development of a new initiative. It has been running successfully for four months as of this application.
• The Community Needs Assessment document was written and reviewed by the Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee.

Winter 2023-2024:

• A meeting was held with the committee to discuss next steps and action planning and a survey was done to vote on our potential action items.
• Action items were identified and confirmed with the committee, and the action plan document was written, and a draft sent to the committee for review.
• The Community Needs Assessment document was included in the mayor’s report during the regular council meeting, and was made public on the Strait Shores municipal website.
• Informal discussion was had at various senior-serving groups throughout the community regarding the assessment, and sparked some other ideas for senior’s programming within our partner organizations including craft afternoons, and topics for Lunch N Learns.

Spring 2024:

• The action plan document will be presented at the May 2024 council meeting and is currently being shared with the public both online through social media, and via the email list. Hard copies are being made available at local businesses, the town office, the library, and other senior-serving organizations within the community. The action plan will also be shared at various events throughout the community this spring.
• The committee is beginning to leverage partnerships in the implementation of our action items and work is underway on the directory of services and the increase in recreation opportunities for seniors. Early logistics planning has also begun for our transportation project.